Misuse of benzodiazepines: a study among key informants in São Paulo city

Authors

  • Paula Orlandi Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psicobiolgia; Centro Brasileiro de Informação sobre Drogas Psicotrópicas - CEBRID
  • Ana Regina Noto Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psicobiolgia; Centro Brasileiro de Informação sobre Drogas Psicotrópicas - CEBRID

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692005000700018

Keywords:

anti-anxiety agents, health knowledge, altitudes, practice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the practice of prescription, dispensation and prolonged use of benzodiazepines, from the point of view of health care professionals and of chronic users of these substances. The sample group was formed using the snowball technique, totaling 19 key-informants. The semi-structured interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Most of the interviewees reported frequent benzodiazepine prescriptions through requests made to doctors, without the need for a formal appointment. The users reported a history of prolonged use (between 2 and 8 years) for purposes other than the simple therapeutic purpose. They also emphasized the ease in acquiring the medication and the lack of medical counseling about the necessary precautions during treatment. The study suggests that the occurrence of misuse involves not only the dispensation control system, but also a series of other factors, including the attitudes of health care professionals.

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Published

2005-10-01

Issue

Vol. 13 (2005): Número Especial

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Misuse of benzodiazepines: a study among key informants in São Paulo city. (2005). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 13(spe), 896-902. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692005000700018